Homeowners Want Roads Fixed

Over two hundred Riverwood Athletic residents are asking the Town of Clayton to step in and require developer Fred Smith to repair roads in their community.

David Christian Edge, a homeowner on Charleston Drive, attended the June 1 town council meeting with a petition in hand containing 224 signatures from fellow neighbors frustrated with the quality of their streets. Edge said certain roads in the community were only partially finished years ago with the developer claiming economic hardship. As a result, streets have disintegrated to the point of impacting home values, resale ability and causing injury to young children.

The petition is requesting the town to hold the developer to an Aug. 30 deadline to complete all surface roads left unfinished.

“I plead with you to take all actions necessary,” said Edge. “Ten years has been too long to live like this and we deserve better.”

Town Manager Steve Biggs said the developer has not violated any schedules with the town to complete the paving process. He also noted the town’s inspector and engineer have found Charleston Drive and another adjoining street need significant repair work before paving can be completed.

But council members agreed the problem has lingered for several years and needed to be remedied as soon as possible.

“We need to give these folks a date so they know when it’s coming,” said Councilman Butch Lawter. “I want them to know it’s going to be paved. I don’t want to hear any excuses that the weather is bad.”

“We’ve been listening to this for five years,” agreed Councilman Art Holder. “I also hear a lot of this outside the (council) chamber. I think we need to draw a line in the sand and say ‘get it done’.”